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Finding
Meaning in the Madness
Finding
Meaning in the Madness:
A Torah Approach To our Troubling Times"
a summary/adaptation of Rabbi Zev Leff's talk
at the 16th annual Darche Noam Alumni Melave Malka
Editor's note:
[No article, even a complete transcript, can replace
the pleasure of listening to the live presentation.
The next best thing would be to order the tape,
listen to the digital file as streaming realaudio,
or downloading it to listen off line. However, we
still thought our alumni would benefit from Rav
Eliezer Kwass' summary/condensed adaptation that
follows. ]
Difficult events themselves can actually bring about
the redemption, as the prophet Yirmiyahu (30:7)
says, "It is a time of difficulty for Yaakov, and
through it ("mimena") - through the difficulty --
he will be saved." That can only happen, though,
if the troubles become a catalyst for change.
The Gemara tells us (Berakhot 5a) that when misfortune
befalls a person he should check ("yefashfesh")
his actions." We must not point at OTHER's actions,
but look at our own, and we must do so in a serious,
fundamental way, correcting our root problems, not
just certain specific actions.
What might G-d be trying to awaken us about? What
should we focus on in order to alter our situation?
The Chafetz Chaim tells us that when we do not appreciate
what we have and function with it ideally, the Ribbono
shel Olam threatens to take it away from us. Sometimes
only after it is actually taken away do we properly
appreciate what we had. That is human nature.
There are two basic aspects to the crisis that we
are living through. 1) Jewish life is in danger.
Terrorism has caused Jewish blood to become "hefker."
2) Our claim to the land of Israel and Jewish settlement
in it is in danger - physically, ideologically,
and politically. It follows, based on the Chafetz
Chaim's teaching, that we must learn to appreciate
what Jewish life means and what living in the Land
of Israel means and begin to live accordingly.
Life in This World
What is life in this world all about?
First of all, what is it not? There was once a popular
tee-shirt that said, "The one who has the most toys
when he dies wins." This articulates a world-view
that says, fill your life with pleasure - with toys.
For some people these toys are very unrefined (I
know of one lady that had herself buried in her
Rolls Royce), and for some they are more refined
(culture, asthetics, even good deeds), but both
groups share the same world-view: life should be
filled with pleasurable experiences.
What is the Torah's conception of life in this world?
We are souls. We were before we were born and we
will be after we leave this world. G-d wants every
soul to gain the ultimate good by independently
earning and creating a relationship with the Divine
in this world. Where our souls are distanced from
G-d - in this world - we are challenged to find
Him. The World to Come is where we experience that
relationship.
Appreciating Jewish life in this world means taking
every opportunity in this world to come closer to
G-d, connect up to Him, and become G-d like. Take,
for instance, buying a dress, technically neither
a mitzva nor an aveira. It can serve a number of
very different purposes. You can buy the dress to
make your neighbor eat her heart out, to amass material
goods, or to get a quick lift through a fun shopping
experience; or you can buy it to enjoy and honor
Shabbat better, in order to give the old dress to
the poor, or buy it for the poor woman herself.
We can do anything in this world in a way that it
elevates our souls or, G-d forbid, the opposite.
[I remember when I was a youngster that there was
once a contest in a supermarket in Miami. The winner
was given for free whatever she was able to take
off the shelves in fifteen minutes. The woman who
won wore special sneakers that day for ease of movement,
she had mapped out the more expensive sections of
the store, and she had learned how to push two shopping
carts and drag a third with her feet. The moment
came, and she whizzed through the store, sweating
as she collected item after item off the shelves.
Can you imagine someone approaching her during her
fifteen minute shopping spree with an easy chair
and suggesting that she take a rest? "You're crazy!"
she'd say, "Wait until after these fifteen minutes
and I'll rest all I want. I'm losing valuable time
now!" This episode has much to teach us about this
world. We are in this world for a very limited amount
of time. We must grab all the Torah and mitzvot
and elevation - all the Olam Haba - we can while
it is still possible. Afterwards there is plenty
of time to rest. Look at the cemetery; they are
all resting. While we are alive we must take advantage
of the infinite opportunities that every moment
offers.]
Living in the Land of Israel
This crisis threatens to take away the Land of Israel
from us, so it must be (in line with the Chafetz
Chaim's teaching) that we do not properly appreciate
what it offers.
The Land of Israel is the homeland of the People
of Israel, who are to be a "Mamlekhet Kohanim v'goy
kadosh, (Shemot 19:7)" a kingdom of kohanim and
a holy nation. We represent G-d in everything we
do, in how we eat and drink, how we conduct business
and family life. We are to be G-d's sanctuary and
the kohanim within it.
The Land of Israel exactly fits the People of Israel.
It is a place of unique holiness and unique Divine
Presence. The Land of Israel is the Eretz Hachaim,
the land of life, where those opportunities are
more intense and readily available. As the Chatam
Sofer teaches us, in the Land of Israel even the
most mundane activities are mitzva acts.
We must learn to appreciate the opportunities that
life in this world offers and take advantage of
the unique spiritual opportunities of the land of
Israel. We must learn the lessons of this crisis
and translate them into fundamental changes in our
own lives. We must not engage in finger pointing
- rather, we must respect other approaches, give
suggestions for improvement where applicable, and
live in a way that will inspire others. We have
the power to transform our misfortunes into a salvation,
but only if we get the message. "It is a time of
crisis for Yaakov and through it he will be saved
(Yirmiyahu 30:7)" |
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